About Us

Our History

Management and Funding

SEWBReC is run as a not-for-profit company (click on the link to download the Memorandum and Articles of Association (pdf)), made up of representatives of some of its key data suppliers and users.

Company Membership

Membership is open to anyone with whom a working relationship exists (e.g. an individual recorder who submits records, a member of a local recording group or a representative of a partner organisation that utilises SEWBReC services). If you would like to become a member, please download and return an application form. Please contact us for further information, or if you have any questions.

Board of Directors

SEWBReC's membership is comprised of a range of individuals and organisations who support the aims of the company. It is managed by a Board of Directors drawn from the membership. The Board steers the development of the company, and provides advice and support to the manager and staff. You can learn more about the current Directors here.

The SEWBReC Team

Adam Rowe (Manager)

Adam has worked in Local Records Centres (LRCs) since the early 1990s. After starting his career at Somerset Environmental Records Centre, Adam spent five years working on the 'Hampshire Biological Record' before becoming Manager of Wales's first LRC, the Biodiversity Information Service for Powys and Brecon Beacons National Park, in 2000. Adam joined SEWBReC as its first Manager in Summer 2004. He is a Director and former Chairman of the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres, a former Trustee of the National Biodiversity Network Trust and is former Vice Chairman of the National Federation for Biological Recording. Within Wales, Adam has represented the interests of SEWBReC and the other Welsh LRCs on a number of groups including the Wales Biodiversity Partnership Steering Group and the Wales Environmental Information Steering Group.

Responsible for: All aspects of financial, business and personnel management. Key contact for current and potential service users. Wales-wide and UK liaison. Attending SEWBReC and external events. SINC and Wildlife Site Liaison.

David Slade (Senior IT and Records Officer)

David is SEWBReC's longest serving staff member having occupied the post of SEWBReC Development Officer (responsible for producing the SEWBReC Development Plan) between late 2002 and spring 2004 when he became SEWBReC's IT and Records Officer. David joined SEWBReC from a post as Assistant Curator of Entomology at the National Museums and Galleries of Wales. In June 2007 David was promoted to his current role. David is a council member for National Federation for Biological Recording. David is the Vice County Recorder for Lepidoptera for VC41 (Glamorgan), and co-author of The Moths of Glamorgan.

Responsible for: All IT and technological developments. Key contact for current and potential data suppliers. Attending SEWBReC and external events. Stand in manager in absence of Centre Manager. Managing the 2016 LEMUR placement trainee.

Rebecca Wright-Davies (Senior Data and Enquiries Officer)

Rebecca joined SEWBReC in early 2005. Having qualified with an MSc in Environmental Biology from Swansea University, Rebecca spent two years as Biodiversity Officer for Newport City Council before travelling in Central and South America for six months. In June 2007 Rebecca was promoted to her current role.

Elaine Wright (Senior Projects and Communications Officer)

Elaine joined SEWBReC in October 2008. After completing a BSc in Countryside Management at Aberystwyth University in 2004, she went on to work for HSBC. Alongside this, Elaine volunteered at the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust one day a week, working with their planning and marketing departments. Elaine initially joined SEWBReC as Biodiversity Information Assistant (working on the CCW data computerisation project) and in May 2011 was promoted to Data and Enquiries Officer. In June 2014, Elaine's post was re-named Communications and Enquiries Officer to reflect her roles in communicating via social media and other outlets. In early 2016, Elaine was re-positioned as Senior Projects and Communications Officer.

Amy Hicks (Biodiversity Information Officer)

After completing BSc Ecology and MRes Bioscience at Cardiff University, Amy started volunteering at SEWBReC in May 2013. In January 2014, Amy was employed part time as a Project Assistant, working on the Mary Gillham Project, including indexing the archive and leading on Heritage Lottery and other funding applications. In Nov 2014, Amy's part time role expanded to Biodiversity Information Assistant. In Jan 2015, Amy secured the full time position of Biodiversity Information Officer. In Nov 2016 Amy started a maternity cover role as Acting Senior Biodiversity Information Officer, taking the lead on SEWBReC's commercial enquiry service.

Responsible for: Leading the commercial enquiry service. Leading in Development Control services for local authorities. Managing and recruiting volunteers. Assistance with partnership liaison including LBAP meeting attendence. Undertaking and supervising data entry and quality control. Organising SEWBReC events, including Training Days and Recorders' Field Days. Attending external events.